Meryl's Guidebook
Food scene
As its name suggests, all of the breads and sweets here are made from scratch! The sandwiches are to die for, they are just so amazingly good! Most sandwiches are really large - my husband and I usually split one. This is a great place to stop and grab something for the trail!
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Scratch Deli & Bakery
911 Moraine AveAs its name suggests, all of the breads and sweets here are made from scratch! The sandwiches are to die for, they are just so amazingly good! Most sandwiches are really large - my husband and I usually split one. This is a great place to stop and grab something for the trail!
This Rock Inn Mountain Tavern building is on the national historic registry, so the atmosphere in here is really neat and definitely unique. The owner works with a lot of local vendors, so the food here is fresh and always very good! Also a great place to hear live music! Be aware that the Rock Inn doesn’t accept reservations, so get there a lil early to get your name on their list! The Rock is literally a 60 second walk from our front door, which makes it a great option after a long day of hiking!
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The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern
1675 Colorado 66This Rock Inn Mountain Tavern building is on the national historic registry, so the atmosphere in here is really neat and definitely unique. The owner works with a lot of local vendors, so the food here is fresh and always very good! Also a great place to hear live music! Be aware that the Rock Inn doesn’t accept reservations, so get there a lil early to get your name on their list! The Rock is literally a 60 second walk from our front door, which makes it a great option after a long day of hiking!
Nicky’s is great. The steaks are the best in town, and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. I HIGHLY suggest sitting in the bar area. The two times I sat in the dining room, it wasn’t nearly the experience I had in the sunken bar area. Nicky, the original owner, is Greek. So there are Greek options throughout their menu!
Nicky's Steakhouse Restaurant
1350 Fall River RoadNicky’s is great. The steaks are the best in town, and the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. I HIGHLY suggest sitting in the bar area. The two times I sat in the dining room, it wasn’t nearly the experience I had in the sunken bar area. Nicky, the original owner, is Greek. So there are Greek options throughout their menu!
My hiking suggestions.
Here are my suggestions for the best hiking trails!
This is an excellent choice for people just arriving at altitude. It’s a relatively short hike, with moderate elevation increase, with a gorgeous payout at the summit! Nearly 360 degree views from the top, this is a great photo op! The one drawback about this trail is the lack of parking. There is NO dedicated parking at this trailhead, so get here early to get one of the few spots on the shoulder of the road.
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Lily Mountain Trailhead
This is an excellent choice for people just arriving at altitude. It’s a relatively short hike, with moderate elevation increase, with a gorgeous payout at the summit! Nearly 360 degree views from the top, this is a great photo op! The one drawback about this trail is the lack of parking. There is NO dedicated parking at this trailhead, so get here early to get one of the few spots on the shoulder of the road.
Lily Lake is just gorgeous. There is so much wildlife here, you’re bound to see something you’ve never seen before! I like to think of The lily lake “trail” as the “choose your own adventure” trail. The basic hike is a lovely paved path around the lake. There is no incline, plenty of benches / rocks to sit and take a rest, and plenty of parking. If you want something a bit more challenging, there are a few different trails off of the basic paved path. They are all marked with signs, so just map out your adventure before you get there, and look for the signs to your chosen hike!
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Lily Lake
Lily Lake is just gorgeous. There is so much wildlife here, you’re bound to see something you’ve never seen before! I like to think of The lily lake “trail” as the “choose your own adventure” trail. The basic hike is a lovely paved path around the lake. There is no incline, plenty of benches / rocks to sit and take a rest, and plenty of parking. If you want something a bit more challenging, there are a few different trails off of the basic paved path. They are all marked with signs, so just map out your adventure before you get there, and look for the signs to your chosen hike!
This is my favorite trail in all of Estes and the RMNP! The views can not be beat. Absolutely stunning views of the Estes valley and surrounding mountains. This hike is relatively easy. It is 2 miles round trip, with a bit of elevation gain - but nothing crazy. There aren’t any more than a few step ups. Along the route to the summit, there are obvious places to stop and look out at the view. I debated whether to include this hike in my guidebook, bc this is a relatively new trail - meaning it’s still mostly uncrowded, which just makes it that much better! Definitely bring your camera on this hike! There is a $5 fee to enter Hermit Park ( owned by Larimer county, not part of RMNP ), but once you’re in there is plenty of parking available.
Kruger Rock Trail
This is my favorite trail in all of Estes and the RMNP! The views can not be beat. Absolutely stunning views of the Estes valley and surrounding mountains. This hike is relatively easy. It is 2 miles round trip, with a bit of elevation gain - but nothing crazy. There aren’t any more than a few step ups. Along the route to the summit, there are obvious places to stop and look out at the view. I debated whether to include this hike in my guidebook, bc this is a relatively new trail - meaning it’s still mostly uncrowded, which just makes it that much better! Definitely bring your camera on this hike! There is a $5 fee to enter Hermit Park ( owned by Larimer county, not part of RMNP ), but once you’re in there is plenty of parking available.